Posts for: November, 2016

You might see your teeth and gums as separate parts of your mouth. But we dentists see them as a unified biological system, each of them contributing to your mouth's various functions: eating, speaking and, of course, smiling.

The teeth-gum-mouth relationship is also a factor when things aren't going well. Tooth decay, for example, doesn't suddenly appear — conditions have to be present in the mouth to cause it. The same can be said for periodontal (gum) disease or bite problems.

So the best approach in dental care is to consider the whole — to first learn all we can about your mouth. We need to understand not only your current problems but also your health history and the unique features of your mouth. With this deeper understanding we can formulate a long-term plan that addresses all your individual needs.

We specifically want to identify your individual oral health risks, from your genetic makeup to any past problems with dental disease or the bite. We then want to assess your current state of health: do you have any presence of dental disease? Is any past dental work failing or in need of updating? Are there any biomechanical issues with the bite or bone loss that need to be addressed?

With this more complete picture, we can then prioritize your care and treatment. Some things like gum disease require immediate attention. Other areas such as bite problems or cosmetic issues may require planning and time to fully address. Our aim, though, is to eventually bring you to as high a level of health as your individual situation will permit.

Once we've achieved an acceptable level of health, our aim is to then maintain that level. This includes monitoring for changes in your oral health and intervening when necessary.

As you can see, establishing a care strategy is only the beginning — and care will always be ongoing. In fact, we'll need to modify your care as new issues arise or you experience the effects of aging. Our end goal, however, always remains the same — to help you achieve and keep the most healthy and attractive mouth possible.

In real life he was a hard-charging basketball player through high school and college. In TV and the movies, he has gone head-to-head with serial killers, assorted bad guys… even mysterious paranormal forces. So would you believe that David Duchovny, who played Agent Fox Mulder in The X-Files and starred in countless other large and small-screen productions, lost his front teeth… in an elevator accident?

“I was running for the elevator at my high school when the door shut on my arm,” he explained. “The next thing I knew, I was waking up in the hospital. I had fainted, fallen on my face, and knocked out my two front teeth.” Looking at Duchovny now, you’d never know his front teeth weren’t natural. But that’s not “movie magic” — it’s the art and science of modern dentistry.

How do dentists go about replacing lost teeth with natural-looking prosthetics? Today, there are two widely used tooth replacement procedures: dental implants and bridgework. When a natural tooth can’t be saved — due to advanced decay, periodontal disease, or an accident like Duchovny’s — these methods offer good looking, fully functional replacements. So what’s the difference between the two? Essentially, it’s a matter of how the replacement teeth are supported.

With state-of-the-art dental implants, support for the replacement tooth (or teeth) comes from small titanium inserts, which are implanted directly into the bone of the jaw. In time these become fused with the bone itself, providing a solid anchorage. What’s more, they actually help prevent the bone loss that naturally occurs after tooth loss. The crowns — lifelike replacements for the visible part of the tooth — are securely attached to the implants via special connectors called abutments.

In traditional bridgework, the existing natural teeth on either side of a gap are used to support the replacement crowns that “bridge” the gap. Here’s how it works: A one-piece unit is custom-fabricated, consisting of prosthetic crowns to replace missing teeth, plus caps to cover the adjacent (abutment) teeth on each side. Those abutment teeth must be shaped so the caps can fit over them; this is done by carefully removing some of the outer tooth material. Then the whole bridge unit is securely cemented in place.

While both systems have been used successfully for decades, bridgework is now being gradually supplanted by implants. That’s because dental implants don’t have any negative impact on nearby healthy teeth, while bridgework requires that abutment teeth be shaped for crowns, and puts additional stresses on them. Dental implants also generally last far longer than bridges — the rest of your life, if given proper care. However, they are initially more expensive (though they may prove more economical in the long run), and not everyone is a candidate for the minor surgery they require.

Discover more about dental implants and how they work to replace your missing tooth.

Countless people dealing with tooth loss are enjoying a healthy and full smile again with dental implants. While there are certainly other restorative options to choose from, dental implants offer a variety of unique benefits that other treatments can’t. Our Braintree, MA dentists are here to provide a little information about what makes a dental implant work and how it can last you the rest of your life if cared for properly.

What is an implant?

This metal post is pretty impressive. It acts similarly to real tooth roots and is placed into the jawbone by our Braintree general dentist. Implants are usually made from titanium because they are biocompatible, meaning that the body won’t normally reject it. Once the implant is surgically placed into the jawbone we will give your mouth a couple months to heal.

During the healing stage, the bone and tissue will grow around the implant. Once this is complete, the implant will now become a permanent part of the jawbone.

What is an abutment?

The abutment looks like a tooth that has been prepared for a dental crown. An abutment is placed on top of the implant and serves one purpose: to connect the implant under the gums with a dental restoration (the visible portion of the implant).

Sometimes the abutment is already part of the implant and so this step won’t be necessary, but many traditional dental implants will still require us to secure the abutment separately.

What is a dental crown?

The dental crown we use to cover an implant is the same restoration used to cover over a damaged tooth. Each crown is custom made to fit your smile. Once your mouth has healed after the abutment has been placed we can then cement the crown over the abutment.

Of course, if you need to replace multiple missing teeth, several implants can be placed in the jawbone to support dental bridges or dentures.

No other dental restoration boasts as long a life as a dental implant. If you want to find out if you are a good candidate for dental implants, call George Salem and Associates in Braintree, MA today!